The term “resolution” in and of itself is a self-defeating proposition. Just think about the word, “resolve.” For me it brings to mind a meeting room full of stuffed shirts pounding gavels and chalk dust flying everywhere as resolutions are passed and then completely ignored. Many people have lists of New Year’s resolutions that they painstakingly make every New Year’s Eve only to have forgotten them several weeks into the year.

There are better ways. If you really want to change your behavior in 2013, forget the resolutions. Set goals instead and pick one that will impact you the most. A couple of years ago, I decided not to set resolutions but to start a New Year’s project. That project was to do “52 New Things” in 2011. I announced this to my friends and family to make it public and I tracked my progress in my weekly planner. Then I frequently posted pictures and status reports of the new experiences to my friends on Facebook.

I chose this goal because conventional wisdom suggests that as people age, their worlds often become smaller. They become rigid and set in their ways. I wanted to flip that around and actually become more open and flexible, as I get older. This experience turned out to be wonderful– I tried so many new things. I ate new foods, took up a new sport, met new people, read new authors and hiked many new trails. This experience was a life changer for me and ultimately, set the stage for big changes as I moved to a different state and got rid of two-thirds of my possessions. Change is much easier for me now and I actually enjoy my life in a much deeper way due to tDo you want to make a positive change in 2013? Whether it is a financial goal or any personal goal, here are five tips based on current research around effectively accomplishing your goals:

Choose one not many. Rome was not built in a day and trying to completely change your financial life all at once is self-defeating. Your goal can be like mine and end up being multi-faceted but keep it simple. In fact, a study by the Journal of Consumer Research found that writing out a detailed plan worked well for participants when they focused on a single goal. When they focused on multiple competing goals, the detailed plan was less effective. When setting your goals for the New Year, make a list of all you want to accomplish in 2013, then choose to focus on one goal that will either have the greatest impact on your finances, is easy to accomplish, or simply is the one with the greatest chance of success. his openness.

Since the 1953 Yale study on writing down your goals was de-bunked by Fast Company as an urban legend, Dr. Gail Matthews from Dominican University did her own study and found three key elements to successful goal setting—accountability, commitment and writing down one’s goals. To do that she randomly assigned participants to five groups:

Group 1 -deeply analyzed their goals and the resources they had to accomplish them.

Groups 2 – wrote down their goals after the deep analysis.

Group 3 – set action commitments after writing down their goals.

Group 4 – did all of the above and shared them with a friend.

Group 5 – did all of the above and sent a weekly progress report to their friend.

At the end, Dr. Matthews interviewed the participants and as you can imagine, Group 5 did the best. An average of 76% of participants’ in-group five completed their stated goals versus 43% in Group. So with the success of Group 5 in mind, implement the following suggestions in your goal setting plan:

Put your goal in writing. Whether you go old school and post your goal on a piece of paper and tape it to your bathroom mirror or you go high tech and use an online journal such as Penzu, write down your goal and post it where you will review it and re-engage on a regular basis.

Set action commitments. Breaking your goal down into smaller steps and holding yourself accountable to each of the steps takes a long-term goal and brings it into the short term. Setting a list goal like the 52 new things, made it easy to measure. If you want to spend less and save more, you could set a weekly savings goal and write down how you reduced your spending each week. For example, dropped my gym membership and started riding my bike this week ($75 a month savings) or reviewed my recurring expenses and went back to basic Pandora (saved $48 for the year), etc. Just dropping my gym membership and then reinvesting the difference (if I earn 6%) would add up to over $20k over 15 years.

Take it a step further than simply telling a friend. Enroll a friend in a goal setting partnership where you support each other on a weekly basis to meet your goals. Set up a weekly call or send a weekly email to your partner with your progress. Even if your progress report is simply, “I didn’t do anything this week,” putting your goal in focus each week and having to report on your progress can help you stay on track. Broaden your accountability by setting up a private group on Facebook where you post about your progress, or simply set up an email distribution list of people to share your challenges and successes. Kick it up a notch further and participate in The Project Program with Forbes contributor Natalie Sission (which I did last fall), which incorporates all of the above. Participants strive to have the most productive four weeks of their lives.

Reward yourself. Give yourself some kind of acknowledgment when the action steps are accomplished and a big reward when the final goal is reached. Rewarding the steps along the way can motivate you to keep going, especially when the steps are challenging and the goal is a tough one.

Forget New Year’s Resolutions this year. Want to make an impact on your life? Pick a life-changing goal and announce it to the world. Pair up with a partner or a group of people that are like-minded. You never know, 2013 could be the best year of your life. Why not go for it? What do you have to lose?

Creativity isn’t a big deal. It’s like our breath. It’s just a part of who we are. Some of us don’t realize this. People who say, “Oh, I’m not creative,” or “I don’t have a creative bone in my body,” sound to me like they’re trying to convince themselves of something, rather than telling themselves the truth. They make the idea of creativity a BIG DEAL because then it will stay safely at arm’s length out of reach and require nothing of them.

Again, creativity isn’t a big deal. It’s not an event. It doesn’t so much happen, as it is allowed. It comes out slowly.

When I found my dog, she had been badly abused. I was walking in the countryside, and she was watching me from a mound of dirt in an old churchyard where she had been dumped. She started to follow me. If I turned around, she’d stop. If I tried to walk towards her, she’d tuck her tail under her butt and walk away from me. But if I moved along on my own way, she’d follow me. She eventually got closer and closer, and ultimately she followed me home.

This is how I experience creativity. Anytime I try to turn around and catch it, it turns away. It’s not about willing it. It rarely takes to announcements like, “Today I’m going to be creative! I’m going to write a whole song!”

In my experience, it’s a process. It is slow. Creativity is a way of being, and though it can’t be forced, it can be cultivated and allowed. It happens when I’m already open and my mind is receptive and quiet. There’s almost a joyful laziness to it. Kind of a “Hmm, well, what if I tried this…”

There is definitely happiness to it. A deep happiness and peace. My theory is that when we cling to our vices, when we do unhealthy things that we adamantly say we deserve, what we’re really trying to do is give ourselves what we keep denying ourselves – a fully creative and artful life. Once we start allowing more creativity in, we might find some of those old habits and “vices” just fall away. After all, they are not a substitute for the real thing.

So, if you’re opening up to a more artful and creative life, know that it’s not something to push. It’s something to allow and live. Here are 21 Ways to be more creative, and subsequently, more happy!

1 – Stop watching television

Or better yet, get rid of the damn thing. Any time I teach writing or creativity, this is one of the biggies. TV is a mind-killer. It numbs you. It fills you with emotionally charged images and over-simplified solutions. It dulls you. Turn it off. Even if this idea scares you, turn it off.

2 – Take a 20-minute walk everyday It’s easy to become driven about exercise. You go to the Y. You go running. You think that a 20-minute walk isn’t productive or worth much. Take a 20-minute walk and allow the world to just be. Watch things. Stop and smell things. Notice birds. Let the world unfold and show itself to you.

3 – Write with pen & paper (or pencil and paper)

Keep a journal. Do morning pages. Write in long-hand. Typing on a keypad into a computer doesn’t always open up that tactile sense-loving part of us that loves to create.

I can sometimes get weirdly happy just hearing the sound the pen makes scribbling on paper. I also love it when the paper is thin, and my pen makes indents so it feels sort of Braille-y, and the paper makes a snappy sound when I turn the page.

4 – Write songs to your pets

At the first women’s retreat I ever facilitated, (at a college campus in St. Louis) a group of women sat on the floor one night in the dorm and sang each other the songs we’d written to our various pets. It was hysterical. The more we sat there, the more women came and sat down with us.

I’ve written many songs to my dog. Greatest hits include “Mom’s Little Girl,” “She Is Going to Be a Very Clean Girl,” (a bathtub song) and “She is Unbelievably Cute.” Of course, there’s also the “Good Morning Song.” My cats each have their own songs too. I actually make myself laugh as I’m creating them because my animals look so truly unimpressed with me.

It’s easy to do because you can do it anywhere – while you drive to work, while you make dinner, while you lie on the couch with them.

5 – Dance around the House

Put on old disco (Earth, Wind, and Fire, baby!), or new Madonna, or swing. Put it on loud. Dance around your house while you make dinner. Or start the day shakin’ your groove thang.

6 – Walk in the rain

I haven’t owned an umbrella in about 10 years. I love the rain. I love walking in it. I wrote the song Everything Green after I hiked in the mountains in the pouring rain. I was journaling about how alive everything was, and I wrote “It was all just rain and mud and wild and green.” That’s how I got my CD title. Walking in the rain can be a happy thing. (Use an umbrella if you want. Rain on umbrellas makes a good sound.)

7 – Make a collage

Magazines. Some Yes Paste. A scrapbook page and lots of crayons and paints and stickers. (And thou.) This isn’t a vision board. It doesn’t have a purpose. It’s just for fun and beauty and making something. I love collaging. I’m not great at it. But I’ve gotten better and better at laying out the page and learning what colors and shapes I love. I always feel more alive when I do one.

8 – Make a list of things you love

My song Loving Hands (on my first CD) was born out of a journal exercise I did where I just wrote a long list of all the things I love. That song remains one of my most requested songs. I had so much fun thinking of things that delight me in the world. Finding feathers, finding pennies, the sound of big flags flapping in the wind, the smell of my cat’s fur when she’s been out in the snow (she smells like a big box of wool mittens). I remember reading it to a friend of mine who just sat there smiling and nodding his head. Even though this was years ago, I still remember how much fun I had making that list.

9 – Write 10 postcards

Go pick out some really cool postcards, and then go to a cafe somewhere, and order your Genmaicha Tea (Okay, get yourself a Latte if you want) and write postcards to friends and family.

10 – Get up early and watch the sun rise

11 – Listen to music you’ve never listened to before.

After I saw the movie Tortilla Soup, I downloaded a bunch of Latin music from iTunes. One of my favorite nights in my memory this year was a hot rainy night thick with humidity. My husband and I opened up all the windows and doors. We pressure cooked (I love our pressure cooker) some black beans, shared a froo-froo mixed drink and made a fantastic dinner while all of my new Latin and Tejano music was cranked up. It was one of those really happy nights, partly because I loved discovering new music.

12 – Eat with your hands

Be a kid again. Make a meal and put the silverware back into the drawers. Eat with your hands. Have some friends over for a silverwareless dinner.

13 – Be quiet

Light a few candles after dark and just sit. Don’t meditate if you don’t want to. Just sit quietly and listen. Watch the candles. Allow for more silence in your life.

We are a noisy people. I hear people say they can’t stand silence. But it is in silence where we can hear the voice of our creativity. Maybe not at first. But it will come.

Drive with no music on. Make dinner in silence. Pay attention to your hands as you slice the veggies. Just be quiet.

14 – Take a nap

15 – Take photos. Real photos. Not digital photos.

My favorite camera is a Pentax K1000. It’s completely manual, and it’s how I learned to take pictures. I’m not very good. When I first moved to Asheville, I used to walk around town on Sundays (the whole town was closed up then) and take pictures of all the buildings. These photos are now a treasure to me because nothing is the same anymore. (Every building has been bought, remodeled and now is filled with stores that sell trickly fountains, Buddahs, and things that smell grassy.)

Take pictures of anything. And have fun in the old method of actually getting your film developed and the excitement of flipping through photos you haven’t seen yet.

16 – Make an event out of watching the full moon come up

One of the things I love about my husband is that he’s always looking for the perfect place to watch the full moon come up. He’ll make an event out of it. We pile in the car and go to this one field or to a bench on the college campus and sit and watch the moon rise.

17 – Read poetry aloud

Poetry is meant to be read aloud. The words and phrases will tilt your brain and open doors like you never thought they would. My favorites: Mary Oliver, e.e. cummings, Rumi, Pablo Neruda, Sharon Olds, Barbara Brooks, and Alicia Suskin Ostriker. There are lots of collections of poetry if you don’t want to pick just one.

18 – Go see a play or live music or live anything

Get out of the house and experience creativity. Avoid mega-blockbuster-Hollywood movies whose trailers begin with the deep gravelly voice saying, “IN A WORLD…” (And then bombs go off and Mel Gibson appears)

Live performance is an exchange. As an audience member you get to participate. I know this because I perform. Every night is different. Everything is about the audience. You receive so much more energy from live shows. Go see the symphony, even the small local symphony. See a play. See some improv. There is so much life on a stage, so many improvisational moments, so much about authenticity. You can’t help but take it in.

19 – Visit a gallery

See another artist’s creation. The downtown of any city is bound to have some great galleries. You don’t have to buy anything. Just experience the artistry of someone gifted in glass blowing or pottery or woodwork.

20 – Write a letter

When was the last time you wrote a letter? I just got a long letter from one of the women who participated in my last retreat. It was funny. And it was fun to read. And I kept thinking, “Damn. It’s been too long since I’ve experienced this.” Every time I write a letter, I feel clearer and happier. Not only is it more fun to make something for someone else, it’s also just a way to get out of yourself.

21 – Stop watching television

This is an important one. It bears repeating. There are so many better things you can do than watch American Idol.

As one of the rites of spring, high school seniors everywhere are in the process of making a college decision. As the May 1 deadline draws ever closer, a different approach may be necessary to make the final decision.

Asking these six questions may help you to choose a college:

JULIE:

1. How will outside scholarships be treated? Sometimes, students work hard to secure outside scholarships, only to find that any that they obtain will reduce the amount of aid they’re receiving from the school. If your child has applied for—or possibly already received—outside scholarships, this could be a deciding factor for your family.

2. What does our high school counselor recommend? The last time your child spoke to the high school counselor may have been much earlier in the decision process. Now that decision time is near and the college choices have been narrowed down, a high school counselor may have some new observations or questions to ask that will help with the decision.

3. How does a second campus visit compare? If feasible, schedule additional campus visits at your child’s top two choices. Now that you are almost to the point of making a decision, the way you view a school will be different than it was when you were just shopping. In addition, you’ll likely meet different people, have a different tour guide, and so forth. That will give you new perspectives as well.

If an actual visit isn’t possible for time or financial reasons, take advantage of the features colleges offer on their websites today, like virtual tours.

LINDSEY:

1. What are the pros and cons of each college? You may love the athletic atmosphere at one school, but does it really stack up against the good academics, housing, and social life of another school? Make sure your decision is based on a well-rounded choice, and that you consider all aspects of college life, instead of just a “dream aspect” of one school.

2. What do those close to me think? Avoid asking for too many opinions. Letting everyone get his or her two cents in about your college choice can confuse much more than it clarifies. Have your college conversations with a small group of close connections, such as your parents and college counselor.

Don’t let everyone’s opinions about your top schools sway your opinion. In the end, your school should be a good fit for you, not your friends.

3. What feels like the total package? Go with your gut, but only to a point. In the end, hopefully you’ll know where you belong. Don’t follow your instincts without regard to cost, academics, or distance from home, however. Try to select a school that is the total package and has many aspects that you enjoy.

Make sure your school has backup majors, plenty of interesting extracurricular, and an atmosphere you’ll enjoy for four years.

What do you do to make the holidays special in your home? The Christmas season may seem merry with presents under the tree and decorations in the house and yard, but there are many ways to make Christmas special. Take this holiday season and slow down to truly appreciate your friends and loved ones by spending some quality time with them.

Take a Christmas Light Tour

No matter where you live, someone nearby probably goes all out on the annual Christmas lights display. Put some cocoa in your thermos, bundle up the family, and spend an evening driving around looking at the amazing Christmas lights displays.

Finding Local Displays

Check sites like Christmas Light Finder or Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland to find listings in your local area. In addition, your local radio station and newspaper will generally feature some of the more outstanding houses in the area. Keep in mind too that your area’s famous landmarks are likely to be decked out as well.

Homemade Christmas

Christmas crafting has been a popular family activity for a long time. Whether you’re crafting ornaments for the tree, baking in the kitchen or making homemade gifts, it’s the gathering together of generations that helps make homemade Christmas activities so special.

Ornaments

You might think that sitting down during the busy Christmas season to make a bunch of ornaments is the last thing you want to do, but crafting with your kids or friends is a great way to bond, and create something meaningful. Ornaments do not have to be complicated.

For super easy ornaments, use clear, acrylic, fillable ornaments and fill them with tinsel, white iridescent tinsel, or curled curling ribbon in Christmas colors. Attach a ribbon for hanging. If you’re up for something more crafty, try these beaded Christmas ornaments.

Build a Gingerbread House

The whole family can build a gingerbread house. Make a sketch, create a template, bake the gingerbread, then find all the wonderful treats for decorations.

If you are not feeling brave enough to tackle a whole gingerbread house from scratch, you can either buy a pre-made kit from suppliers like Wilton, or you can make due by using graham crackers and canned frosting in lieu of gingerbread. Your house won’t be as big, but then again, neither will the mess.

Bake

Holiday treats do not have to be expensive or difficult to make. Whip up some homemade candy or cookies to share with family and friends. Consider making a big batch of one goody and then attending a cookie swap so you can get several varieties in exchange for your labor. If you’re looking for cookies to make with your kids try a batch of regular sugar cookies, and sprinkle them with colored Christmas sugar.

Dine in Style

Whether you dig out Grandma’s special holiday china settings, or just use festive colors in paper plates and utensils, setting an elegant table for your holiday meal puts everyone in the mood to celebrate. Light some candles, use a table runner and other linens, and add a festive centerpiece.

Decorate Your Tree

Everyone has different methods for decorating the tree. Some people want it to be a spectacular themed display; others might use ornaments the kids have made over the years. When decorating the tree, share the stories behind the ornaments or why you picked them. “Do you remember this one? You made it in Mrs. Weaver’s 1st grade class.” or “I chose this star because I liked the way it twinkled.” These tales will live on for years afterward.

Christmas Eve

For many families, the holiday celebrating starts the day before Christmas with a large feast and midnight mass. Create your own special memories the day before Christmas with these fun ideas.

Pajamas and a Story

Cozy up in your favorite pajamas, sit on pillows by the tree, and read special Christmas stories. There are many wonderful books highlighting this time of year, including:

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Polar Express

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Warm up some cider or hot cocoa to share, and enjoy some read aloud time. You’ll find that even older kids and teens will enjoy this tradition.

Christmas Talent Night

Usher in Christmas with some fun and laughter. Before the big night, write out several ideas on small strips of paper that people will have to perform. Have family members choose one piece of paper and then perform their talent for the rest of the group. Have the audience rate the acts on a scale of one to ten. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

Explain to the group how to take care of reindeer for optimum flying. Be creative and feel free to use audience members as reindeer props.

Act out Santa’s day on the 26th of December.

Play a popular Christmas carol on a pair of spoons. See if the group can guess what is being played.

Attend Church

Many families like to join together for a Christmas Eve church service. It’s okay if you’re not a regular attendee. Typical of Christmas Eve is the midnight candle-lit service held in many churches of different faiths. If you have little ones, you may want to bring LED candles so that they can participate without getting burned.

Share the Christmas Love

Some things are just better shared with neighbors and friends or in a group. Include other people in some of your family’s traditions, and you will find yourself reaping the benefits ten-fold.

Christmas Caroling

Gather folks together for caroling. It may feel a bit corny at first, but once you get started, you’ll find it to be a joyous event. If you can’t quite get into going door to door, call a local nursing home and see if you can carol there. The residents will love your presence.

Volunteer Together

Join the family together and help out at a homeless shelter, or volunteer to take meals to homebound individuals. If you live in your small town, consider baking treats for your local fire and police stations. There’s no better way to put your blessings in perspective than to visit with those less fortunate.

Give

Even if you are tight on cash, you can still help your favorite charities by giving of yourself. Donate your time or unused items to a worthwhile Christmas charity effort. Consider Toys for Tots, Project Angel Tree or another local charity.

Celebrate Christmas from the Heart

Remember that Christmas not only doesn’t come from a store – it doesn’t come with rules. In addition to honoring your fondest memories of Christmases past, you can create new traditions by doing the things you and your family will cherish most, without breaking your budget.

We hear a lot about college before we head out to start the next chapter in our lives, but what we don’t learn a lot about is who we will be meeting while we’re in school.

The people you’ll meet in college will completely change your worldview. You’ll most likely encounter people who have opinions and interests that you’ve never even considered before.

While I can easily separate the types of people you’ll be meeting, you may certainly encounter people who fall into multiple groups. There’s no cut and dry way to describe students at every school, as each school has different norms, but there are definitely a few types of people who can be found on any college campus at any given time. Here’s my list!

1. The Partier

A major aspect of college is about partying, but this person takes it to a whole new extreme. No matter how many shots you take, this person takes two more. No matter how late you stay out, this person stays out later. Although you know this person is a partier, many aspects of their life are mysterious. The chief concern you’ll have? How on Earth they are able to make it to class all the time. Hangovers don’t get in this person’s way, and neither does schoolwork.

2. The Overachiever

This person is in as many clubs as possible — from Student Government to Judicial Council, this person is on it. Oh, and don’t worry, this person is also juggling an internship and an 18-hour courseload. Missed class on Thursday? They’ve got the notes. Need help finishing that study guide? They finished it two weeks ago. Wonder what their GPA is? Probably a 4.0. How do they do it? We may never know.

3. The Member of Greek Life

This person makes their sorority of fraternity their life. They live in the house, go to every single function, are only friends with people in their sorority/fraternity, etc. You’ll see this person out and about having a social life but also getting involved in other organizations on campus.

4. The Sports Junkie

This is the person that attends every sporting event and knows a lot about athletics at your school. Even if your school doesn’t have a strong athletic program, you’ll still encounter the sports junkies who love professional sports. Don’t even try to bother this person during the first few days of March Madness — they won’t answer your calls. If you want to be friends with this person, you’ll have to be willing to watch sports and/or go to sporting events on a frequent basis!

5. The “Too Cool” Person

These people think they are way too cool for school. And they would probably hate the idiom I just used. These people are the ones that refuse to fit into norms and stereotypes and are using this time to really find themselves. Events on campus? You won’t see them there. They’re busy checking out different places off campus … probably stuff you’ve never heard of.

Before I start, I must tell you all about Etsy. My, it’s a wonderful place. If you’ve made something, you can sell it there. And if you want something handmade, you can go there and probably buy it (want Doctor Who jewellery or Michael Jackson magnets? You’ve just found your new favourite website). You would think there was no better place on the interweb for crafters … There is though. It’s called Regretsy and it has the most brilliant tag line I’ve ever read: “Handmade? It looks like you made it with your feet”. Rightly or wrongly (there has been many an online rant against it from aggrieved crafters) it exists solely to unearth and mock the very best of the worst craft Etsy sellers have to offer. It’s sarky and witty and, while I feel a bit of a traitor saying it, I’d much rather spend an hour trawling through it than Etsy. It seems that the guys at Random House are equally impressed too – on November 20 it was announced that the site has done a deal with them to bring out a book. Last night I saw the first Christmas-themed craft post go up (“Yule be sorry” ) and we should definitely expect to see plenty more where that came from: Christmas is a time when craft goes bad. Obviously the kids get let off the hook – they can make snowmen from loo rolls and wreaths from washing up bottles and it’s charming and adorable and something their parents should be proud of. If it’s the work of anyone over 16 though, it’s often just naff. But your own Christmas crafting needn’t be so crappy, especially when it comes to cards. It’s actually quite easy to avoid ending up as the star of your very own blog post on Craftastrophe, Handmade gone Wrong or Homemade Hilarity. Just follow a few guidelines and you can make a perfectly acceptable, even impressive, set of Christmas cards. And the best thing? These simple, more stylish cards are actually easier to get right and cheaper to make than most.

Avoiding a craftastrophe

• Keep it simple. Go for white space and basic shapes rather than clutter.

• Use square cards rather than rectangular ones. I have no idea why they look better, but they do.

• If you are going for one simple shape on the front of a card, make an effort to get it right. Search the Internet for something to print out and copy from or ask someone clever to design something you can use as a template.

• Bright red and green are obviously colors to use but stay away from them. Rich purples, navy and gold look much better.

• Invest in decent paper with classy patterns – it makes even the most basic cards look great. Paperchase is your best bet for this – they do fantastic A2 sheets for £2 and one or two will see you through your Christmas card-making.

• Sequins and gems can really finish off a card. They can also ruin it too. Put down the glitter and use embellishments sparingly.

• If you must have a message on the front of the card, find someone with decent handwriting. Anything done on a computer looks a bit crap, as does most lettering stickers you can buy. Consider using pencil too – it makes cards look handmade, but in a good way.

• Avoid pre-packaged card making sets. They are a waste of money and usually full of rubbish designs.

Making cards to save cash

Making stuff yourself is rarely cheaper than buying it – you can pick up 50 cards for a quid in most pound shops and you’ll never be able to make 50 cards for that. But if you are accustomed to sending posh-looking cards that cost £5-£10 for five, you can achieve something just as nice yourself for less. Buy blank cards online – you still have time to get them delivered and they are usually cheaper than places like Hobbycraft. For a cheaper alternative to blank cards, cut your own from large sheets of card and buy cheap envelopes separately. Beware though – this is time consuming and it can be difficult to fold them exactly. • Parcel paper is cheap and always looks great on cards. Look out for bargain wrapping paper too. Pages from glossy mags can also be used instead of shop-bought paper too.

Making cards en masse

If you are just making cards for a select few, or have the luxury of a few days off between now and Christmas, your design can be as detailed as you want. But if everyone is going to get one from you, you need to be efficient. It is possible to do though – all 50 friends and relatives I sent cards to last year got a handmade card and spare time is not something I have much of. Buy blank cards rather than cutting your own. Don’t make cards one at a time – work in stages. Cut everything out first, then do all the sticking, and then finish off by adding embellishments. Glue is messy and, although double-sided tape is quick to use when you have square shapes, the easiest way to stick paper to card is to use spray mount, a spray-on glue in an aerosol can. It’s about £6 a can but lasts for ages. • Choose a design that is simple to cut out (this beautiful reindeer design on Etsy would look brilliant on a handmade card, but those antlers would keep you tied to the craft table for days on end). Also, stack a few pages up and cut out a few of the same shapes at once.

Connor Cerniglia’s application to Bates College looked highly promising. The Annapolis, Md., senior was in the top third of his class at St. Mary’s High School, played football and lacrosse, and was active in student government and the environment club. But the likely clincher given the applicant pool the college attracts, his college adviser Dave Gibson says now, is that he applied early decision (ED), promising to attend if accepted.

“I wanted to express to the school how much I truly wanted to go there,” says Cerniglia, now a Bates sophomore.

Contrary to speculation five years ago that early admissions was on the wane, following decisions by Harvard University, Princeton University, and the University of Virginia to drop their early options as a disservice to racial and socioeconomic diversity, the programs have only grown in popularity.

“More students are using their early card than ever before,” says Bev Taylor, founder of the admissions consulting firm The Ivy Coach in New York City.

Of high school seniors who filled out the Common Application last year, nearly 51 percent applied to some form of an early program, says Rob Killion, the Common App’s executive director. The programs range from simple early action, which doesn’t obligate you to attend, to binding early decision.

Not wanting to miss out on all these choice candidates, the three universities that ended early options have re-entered the game. Harvard and Princeton restored “single choice” early action last fall, which restricts applicants from applying early to other private schools but doesn’t require them to attend or even decide until May 1.

U.Va.’s early action option isn’t restrictive. Greg Roberts, dean of admissions, says the university is responding to strong interest in an early plan from parents and students—and that, without one, U.Va. may have been losing applicants.

The programs clearly are a boon for the colleges. Early decision, in particular, is the proverbial bird-in-hand for admissions staffers facing increasing uncertainty in picking a freshman class as high schoolers hedge their bets by applying to 10 or more schools.

By securing in some cases nearly half of the incoming freshmen by December 15, colleges can avoid coming up short after May 1. They also boost their yield, the percentage of admitted students who enroll, which has become a key indicator of popularity.

Early decision applicants can’t automatically assume a lowered bar; Miami University in Ohio offers them a mere 1 percent advantage, for example, and Wake Forest University, too, characterizes any edge as slight. But as a strategic move, ED can make good sense for students who know what they want and “may not have all the A’s, the scores, the activities, or the talent,” says Taylor.

Many institutions readily acknowledge that their early acceptance rates are higher than for regular admissions. At Vanderbilt University, 13 percent of those who apply for regular admissions are accepted, compared to 24 percent who make the cut in the early decision pools. The former are more competitive, with the middle 50 percent scoring 1470 to 1590 on the two primary parts of the SAT and 33 to 35 on the ACT, compared to the early-bird middle 50 percent, who came in at 1390 to 1520 and 31 to 33.

Bates takes 47 percent of its early decision pool and 22 percent of regular applicants. Lafayette College most recently admitted 56 percent of those who applied early decision, compared to 31 percent of the regular pool.

The big hitch with binding early decision is that students hoping for the best possible financial aid package won’t be able to compare offers, which are made in March. When an award turns out to be too skimpy, schools will typically release you from your commitment. But by then it may be too late to apply elsewhere.

While financial aid offices will typically estimate your share of costs before you apply, being proactive is key. “Say, ‘These are my numbers, can you give me a rough estimate?’” advises Barry Baker, director of college counseling at the California Academy of Math and Science in Carson.

Most teens, especially lower-income students and those in public schools whose counselors are overtaxed, don’t get advice on the finer points of applying early. With their latest program iterations, Harvard, Princeton, and U.Va. have vowed to level the playing field through recruiting efforts and a focus on financial aid.

Roberts says U.Va. chose early action this time instead of reinstating early decision because data at peer institutions indicate it often draws students from all economic and racial groups at nearly the same rate as regular decision. “Early action gives you more flexibility to compare financial aid offers,” he notes.

Early action, since it’s not binding, won’t give you that admissions edge. Still, it can be an excellent option for students who crave certainty in spring semester but don’t have a clear first choice and so benefit by having until May 1 to commit to a school and an aid package.

“When I hear students say, ‘I don’t know where I’m going to apply but I know I want to apply early decision,’ that’s absolutely the wrong approach. Those are the students that are going to have some regrets,” says Wake Forest Dean of Admissions Martha Allman, who applied early decision to the school herself.

“ED is for those who have done admissions research early and have a firm understanding of the implications of the agreement and who have an unwavering commitment to their dream school.”

That describes Cerniglia, who fell hard for Bates during a visit the summer after his junior year and had no doubts about proclaiming the school his only choice.

Student Rate is an online service that brings students and vendors who give discounts to them together. The goal is to be the central location for all students’ discounts so that students can spend less on goods and have more funds to pay for tuition, room, board, books and having fun.

]]>http://thebrightquest.com/student-rate-new-york-city/feed0http://thebrightquest.com/student-rate-new-york-cityBy George Eliothttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BrightQuest/~3/HhMELSMYOIo/by-george-eliot
http://thebrightquest.com/by-george-eliot#commentsSun, 29 Nov 2015 07:00:10 +0000Bright Quest Teamhttp://thebrightquest.com/?p=1379“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
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